Antilockout time lock



J n 2, 1942. R. H. CLARKSON ETAL 2,285,328

ANTI-LOCKOUT TIME LOCK Filed June 5, l941 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS.

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June 2- R. H. CLARKSON ET AL 2,285,328

ANTI LOGKOUT TIME LOCK- Filed June 5, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS.

Ra igil Patented June 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTILOCKOUT TIME LOCK Application June 5, 1941, Serial No. 396,746

(Cl. 70-2'i2) 12 Claims.

The present invention relates to improvements in time locks, and particularly to means for preventing lockouts resulting from excessive set up of the time movements of time locks.

An object of the invention is to provide means to automatically limit the manual winding of at least one of the time movements of a time lock to a predetermined set up period of operation which is used daily on the structure protected by the look.

A further object of the invention is to provide simple and inexpensive means for the stated purpose which are furthermore releasable from the exterior of the lock casing to permit of extended winding of the time movement and at the same time to act as a reminder to exercise care in performing such additional winding.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means of this kind that is inexpensively applied to existing locks and that is adjustable to selected time periods.

These and other important objects are attained by the means described herein and disclosed in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental front elevational view of a time lock embodying the invention with the casing door closed,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged View of the device of Fig. l with the door open and with the improvements of the invention, shown partly in dotted lines, applied to the No. 1 movement.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2, part being broken away.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 44 of Fig. 2, part being broken away.

Fig. 5 is a rear elevational view of the dial of No. 1 time movement showing one form of adjustment means of the invention.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Fig. 5.

Fig, 7 is a fragmental front elevational view of No. 1 time movement with the device of the invention in position to automatically limit the winding thereof.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 7 but showing: the device released to permit extended winding of the time movement.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged crosssectional view taken on line 99 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken on line I2l2 of Fig. 11.

Fig, 13 is a front elevational view of a different type of time movement having the device of the invention modified and adapted thereto.

Fig. 14 is cross-sectional view taken on line I4-I4 of Fig. 13.

It is Well known, in the art of time lock controlled structures, that failure of the lock to open at the intended hour constitutes a lock-out and that to avoid delays due to inaccessibility of records and valuables the manufacturers expert should be called to diagnose the cause of the lock-out and rectify it. The time locks are housed in a locked casing which is disposed interiorly of the safe or vault so that access thereto is not feasible save by an expert. These lockouts are found in many instances to be due to inadvertent excessive set up of the time movements b the custodian to Whom the duty is assigned although the fact is not readily determinable save by an expert.

We have devised a simple means, which can be applied to existing time locks as well as to new time locks, that is initially adjusted to the routine habits of time lock cutodian in a given establishment in order to automatically prevent inadvertent excessive set up of the time lock and to act as a monitor whenever the time lock is set up for an extended period of operation for weekend or holiday protection. Referring to the drawings, a time lock casing 20 is arranged in known fashion to be mounted on the inside of a safe or vault door (not shown). The casing door 2! is under the control of a key look (not shown).

Within the casing 20 are time movements 22, 23 and 24 having winding dials 25, 26 and 21, respectively, a. portion of each being visible through a glass 28 in door 2|. The number of time movements may differ in various looks but this does not affect the use of the improvements of the invention therein.

Each time movement has a winding arbor or stud 29 which is rendered accessible to the custodians winding key through a keyhole 30 in the door 2|. A fixed hand 3| has its point 32 disposed over the numbered graduations 33 on the dial and the dial rotates in an anti-clockwise direction relative to the hand during manual winding of the movements which sets them for the selected protection period of operation under the spring power of the movements. In practically all time locks using spring driven time movements the winding dial has a dial pin extending either from the face or reverse side and this pin opcrates suitable means which release the lock for operation when the dial is in zero position. The a movement of the dial after winding determines In the device of Figs.

the period of protection. 1 to 9 and also in the device of Figs. 10 to 12 the dial pin is on the reverse side of the dial. Figs. 13 and l show an example of time movement wherein the dial pin is on the face of the dial.

As shown in Fig. 2, dial pin 34 of the No. 1 time movement 25 on its return to zero position moves lock slide lever 35 to operate the lock slide 36 which is also operable by the corresponding lock slide levers 35 of any of the other time movements. It is necessary to apply the improvements of the invention to only one of the time movements of a time lock in order to attain the advantages hereinbefore mentioned. The No. l

movement is selected because it is usually wound first, and if any of the movements be exactly wound, the remaining movements will not preclude opening of the look at the appointed hour even if said other movements be excessively set up or if one'of them should fail.

The device of the invention as applied to Figs. 1 to 9 and Figs. 10 to 12' comprises a stop lever 31 pivoted at its top on a pivot 38 and having a spring 39 with one end entering the end 49 of lever 37, while the free end of the spring engages the side of an abutment pin 4t in the housing of the movement 22. The movements are interchangeable in most locks of the same manufacture so that an expert in the fieldcan properly install the pivot 38 and pin 4i using a templet to' locate these parts properly with relation to the dial pin of the movement if necessary} The dial 25 which'has the dial pin 34 on the rear thereof has a rearwardly extended hub 42 which spaces the body of the dial above the level of the lock slide lever 35. Into this spa'cefthe lever 37 extends, in part. On top of the lever Ell is a stop lug 44 which rides on the periphery 45 of an adjustable annular ring" 45. The adjustable ring 46 is provided in lieu of the normal thickness of the dial memb'e'r 25., The dial member 25 has exterior teeth 4T while the ring 46 has teeth 48- which engage therewith and thus provide for the adjustmentof a notch 49' in the periphery of ring, 46 with relation to the dial pin 34. On the int'e'gral part of dialmemberfi which carries the dial pin, we provide radial marks 59, 51' and 52 which may be selectively aligned with a radial mark 53 that is a" continuation of the end of portion 4'! of dial member 25in order to preclude accidental separation of the ring from the dial member after these parts have been carefully set with mark 53 in registry with one of the marks on the dial member 25. This adjustment is initially made to accommodate thehabits of the custodian in winding or settingup the time lock and is subject to adjustment by him. It will be seen that by radially outward movement of the latch 54 in the recess 51 in the ring, the latter is readily subject to being bodily lifted from the rear face of the dial and adjusted as desired. From the foregoing, it will be readily seen that when the dial is placed in position on the'time movement withthe dial pm at its normal zero position wherein the lock slide lever is in opening position, and the notch 49 has been arranged a selected number of degrees away, the lug 44 will ride on the smooth untoothed periphery 45 of ring 45 at a distance from notch 49. When the custodians winding key is applied to winding arbor 29 and the turning thereof imparts gear and pinion rotating movement to dial 25, the notch 49 approaches lug 44. e If the ring 45 be adjusted as shown in Fig. 5, the winding movement may continue until the dial has turned to a position wherein the indicator point 32 shows a 1'7 hour winding and at this instant 111g 44 is urged into notch 49 by the spring 39, whereupon further winding of the movement is arrested because the dial has been brought to a predetermined definite stop. The 1'7, hour stop is used in those instances where the custodian undertakes to wind the time the movement will run down in 1'7 hours and render the lock openable at the opening of business the next morning.

' Inthose instances where the routine duties of the custodian include the winding of the time lock mechanism in the morning at the opening of business when thesafe is first opened, the adjustment of ring 46* would be arranged so that the mark 53- is aligned with mark 52 and a 24 hour winding operation would be made before the lug 44 entered notch 49. It will be noted that the distance between the marks 5% 51 and 52 and the dial pin 34 constitute the means for accurately adjusting the ring 46 whereby to adapt the lock to predetermined automatic winding limits.

It will be understood that the winding or set up limit thus automatically imposed i used for the overnight protection throughout the business or work week. When, however, it is necessary to set up the time lockior 'an extended period of protection, as over holidays or for weekend protection, the custodian winds the movement in the usualway until lug 44 enters notch 49 and comes to a dead stop, whereupon he may manually push the rod 53 to'the left and withdraw lug 44 from notch 49 against the resistance of spring 39 and continue the winding movement carefully. As soonas' the lug 44 has been cleared by the abrupt shoulder of notch 49, the rod 58' may be released so that careful further winding for the necessary period may be completed. In these extended windings, the notch 49 will necessarily have to pass the retracted lug 44. This initially occurs while the lever 31 is manually held out by pressure on the rod '53. Thereafter, the lug may ride upon the rim 45 of the dial. As unwinding continues lug 44 will drop into notch" 49- and continued movement of the dialwi ll allow lug 44' to ride up the'gradual slope out of notch 49; 1

It will be noted that the rod" 58 is considerably extended so that it passes through a slot 59in the door 2i so that both the insertion of the custodians winding key and the manual disabling of the automatic set up stop can be accomplished while the door of the time lock casing is closed and locked. As is clearly observable in Fig. l,v

corresponding to the notch 49' in ring 46. The

The ring 62' has a notch 63 therein cooperating teeth 64 and 65 on the inner periphcry of ring 62 and the outer periphery of hub 66 correspond essentiallywith the same parts in the device of Fig. 5. The releasable holding means, however, consists of a pair of arcuate spring wire members 61 which are secured at one end within the undercut groove 63 beneath teeth 65 while the free ends thereof are springurged .to enter the undercut groove 69 beneath teeth 64 of the ring 62. The modified form of holding means for the adjustable ring, as illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, is preferred because simpler and less expensive to construct. The notch 63 cooperates with the lever 31 and its parts in the manner hereinbefore described in connection with Figs. 1 to 9, inclusive. It will be noted, however, that the marks H, 12 and T3 are shown relatively closer to the dial pin 10 due to the fact that the movement embodying the same is adapted for rotation through approximately 360" during 120 hours, whereas the same amount of rotation would occur in 72 hours in the movements illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. The marks ll, 12 and 13 are adapted to have the mark 14 on the adjustable dial ring matched therewith in the manner which will now be well understood. It will be understood that the means for holding the adjustable ring either as shown in Figs. 5 and 6 or in Figs. 11 and 12 may be embodied in any dial which has the dial pin on the rear face thereof.

Reference is now made to Figs. 13 and 14 wherein therei illustrated a time movement of a different type, via, the type wherein the dial pin is in the exposed face of the dial of the time movement. In the movement 15 the dial it has dial pin 17 extending from the face thereof and this movement is provided in known fashion with non-rotatable hand 18. Dial 16, in this instance, turns in a clockwise direction during the winding of the movement which is accomplished by turning the winding arbor 79. In order to adapt the invention to this type of time movement there is provided a lever 80 pivoted on a shouldered stud 8| which is inserted into the case 82, said lever having a shoulder 83 and a rounded cam nose 84 which are constrained to overhang the dial in the path of the dial pin 1! due to the influence of a coil spring 88 which surrounds stud 8| and has its respective opposite ends anchored in the case and lever. The lever is fashioned, particularly with respect to the shouldered notch 83, so that the dial pin will automatically engage thereon and stop further winding of the movement at the predetermined number of hours. This mechanism is very simple and, since the dials are standardized, it is a comparatively simple task for the expert in the field to install a lever in the proper position to secure the desired degree of winding. The levers, however, are initially constructed with the notch 83 positioned as required for any given period of winding. Should the normal protection period or the habits of the custodian differ in several places,:levers 80 with the notches 83 thereof disposed at correspondingly different distances would be provided to take care of the difference. In other words, a different sized lever is used for each different set up period that is to be automatically attained. Should a change in the set up period or in the routine of custody occur, the replacement of one lever with another of a different length may be accomplished in a few moments at a relatively trifling expense. Rod 89 in the lower end of lever 80 i adapted to project through a suitable slot in the door of the time lock casing (not shown) in the same fashion as illustrated in Fig. l.

The operation of the device of Figs. 13 and 14 will be readily understood. In the winding movement pin Tl engages notch 83 and brings to a dead stop any further winding of the movement. This would be used for the customary overnight protection. When extended protection is required for weekends and holidays, the custodian sets up the movement until it comes to a stop; whereupon, he is apprised of the fact that he has accomplished winding for overnight protection and that he must now move the extended end of rod 89 to the left in order to further wind the movement. This serves as a monitor to exercise care in the additional winding. When the dial turns under its spring power in a reverse direction, pin "I"! will ultimately engage cam face 84 on the end of the lever and thus move the lever out of its path against the resistance of spring 88. Upon fully passing the cam, the lever will be spring-returned to its initial position without further conditioning.

From the foregoing it will be readily appreciated that we have provided relatively simple means applicable to the exterior of a movement in a time lock and uited to the normal construction of time movements for such locks. It will be understood that the invention herein is not to be considered as restricted to the specific structural details since they may be subjected to modification Within the spirit and scope of the invention and also to accommodate the invention to the oddities of any variant forms of time movements embodied in time locks. Under each such embodiment the protection against accidental lock-out conditions is attained in a minimum of time and at a modest cost.

What is claimed is:

1. An anti-lockout time lock comprising a time movement having a winding dial, and means mounted alongside the dial and cooperating with the dial to arrest winding movement of the dial at a predetermined position between the limits of movement of said dial.

2. An anti-lockout time lock comprising a time movement having a winding dial, and means mounted alongside the dial and cooperating with the dial to arrest winding movement of the dial at a predetermined position between the limits of movement of said dial, said means being yieldable and manually displaceable to permit Winding movement of the dial beyond said predetermined position.

3. In a time lock the combination of a time movement including a winding dial, a lever pivoted alongside the dial and complementary means on the lever and dial engageable to arrest winding movement of the dial at a predetermined position between the limits of movement of the dial.

4. In a time lock the combination of a time movement including a winding dial, a lever pivoted alongside the dial, complementary means on the lever and dial engageable to arrest winding movement of the dial at a predetermined position between the limits of movement of the dial, and a spring yieldably retaining the lever in engaging position and permitting manual retraction of the lever enabling further winding movement of said dial beyond said predetermined position.

5. An anti-lockout time lock comprising a time movement having a Winding dial, a lever pivoted on the movement, a spring urging the lever to predetermined relationwith the winding dial, and means on the said dial to abut the lever upon predetermined winding movement of the dial to arrest the dial and establish a predetermined set up of the time movement.

6. An anti-lockout time lock comprising a time movement having a winding dial, a lever pivoted on the movement, a spring urging the lever to predetermined relation with the Winding dial, and adjustable means on the said dial to abut the lever upon predetermined winding movement of the dial to arrest the dial and establish a predetermined set up of the time movement.

7.'In an anti-lockout time look, a time movement including a winding dial, an externally toothed hub on said dial, an interiorly toothed ring adjustably seated on the hub, means to removably hold the ring on the hub, a dial pin in the hub, and an abutment in the periphery of the ring adjustable relative to the pin by adjustment of the ring.

8. In a device of the class described a winding dial, a dial pin on said dial, a flat ring member having one of a pair of complementary abutments thereon, said ring and dial adapted for adjustable connection, whereby the abutment on the ring is disposed in selected relation to the dial pin.

9. In a device of the class described the combination with a time movement comprising a winding dial having a dial pin, a lever having a lug thereon engageable by the dial pin on predetermined movement of the winding dial, a spring urging the lever to dial-arresting position and yieldingly permitting manual retraction of the lug for further winding movement of the dial, and a cam portion on the lever, engageable by the dial pin on return movement of the dial, to temporarily displace the lug as the dial pin passes the lug.

10. An anti-lockout time movement for a time lock comprising a winding dial having a peripheral notch, a stop lever yieldably urged against the periphery of said dial for entry into' the notch and automatically arresting winding movement of the dial at a predetermined set up position and means on the lever for manually displacing the lever from its dial arresting position in said notch.

11. In combination a rotatable dial, an externally toothed hub on the dial, an internally toothed ring releasably seated on the dial in toothed engagement about said hub, means to releasably retain said parts in adjusted position, said ring having a peripheral notch, and a lever yieldably urged against the periphery of the ring for entry into the notch upon rotation of the dial.

RAYMOND H. CLARKSON. WILLIAM T. BENHAM. 

